The Canary Islands are bracing for potentially severe weather as African storms threaten to hit the region in the coming days. The regional Government has issued multiple alerts, including warnings for high temperatures, strong winds, and coastal phenomena, as well as a heightened risk of wildfires. The Directorate General of Emergencies has also warned of the possibility of unusual thunderstorms, particularly over Tenerife.
Much of the Canary Islands remains under yellow alerts issued by AEMET for extreme heat and strong winds, and the government has advised that conditions are ripe for the development of thunderstorms, with the formation of vertical or storm clouds over Tenerife's mountainous regions, though the smaller western islands are currently excluded from this forecast.
There is also a chance that electrical storms from Africa could lead to scattered showers and sudden downpours of rain. These downpours are intense, localised vertical currents of descending air associated with storm clouds, causing sudden spikes in temperature and powerful wind gusts that can last between 5 and 30 minutes.
The Canary Islands Government issued a pre-alert for high temperatures on Saturday, August 17th, affecting the entire archipelago which is still active.
Tenerife and the western islands are expected to see temperatures rise to 34°C in certain areas, particularly inland and in southern and western regions.
Gran Canaria, however, will experience the highest temperatures, with forecasts predicting up to 36°C, and possibly exceeding 39°C in the Tejeda and Tirajana basins.
Strong winds are also a concern, with yellow alerts in place for La Palma, particularly in El Paso, where gusts could reach 70 km/h. Similar conditions are expected in La Gomera, especially in the highlands and on the eastern and northwestern slopes, while El Hierro will see strong winds along the southeastern coast and the far northwest.
The wind pre-alert issued by the Canary Islands government has been updated to cover the highlands of La Palma, including the El Paso area, as well as the peaks and midlands of southern La Gomera. In Gran Canaria, the alert extends to the high-altitude areas of San Bartolomé de Tirajana and Tejeda.
Additionally, a wildfire risk alert has been in effect since 7:00am on Saturday across Tenerife, La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera, and Gran Canaria. This alert applies to areas above 800 metres of altitude in Tenerife, the western islands, and northern Gran Canaria, dropping to 400 metres in the island’s southern regions. The risk is heightened by the ongoing heatwave and humidity levels below 30%.
A pre-alert for coastal phenomena has also been in effect since Friday, August 16th, with the government issuing guidelines to help minimise risks for those near the shoreline, and advising beachgoers to observe flags to act accordingly, especially if they are red.
